[Graduating class of 240009.04]

Shiny new Ensigns ❤️ 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

I love @Rustyy_Hael

 

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Rustyy looked at Sol. If he could raise one eyebrow, he would have. But He lacked the capacity, so both eyebrows went up.

 

[Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: Privacy Schmivacy]

This was a great read! Well done ❤️ 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

I really loved this bit of conversation between @Corey Wethern and @Madison Marsh

 

Quote

 

Marsh (as Wetheren): I am sorry that I suck being you Corey. I am surprised that Doctor Duran did not notice, but how often do beings swap bodies right? We can think of it that way. We definitely need to swap back as soon as possible, but they would place us in a Cardassian insane asylum if we said we swapped bodies anyways. No one would believe us anyways. 

 

Wethern (as Marsh): Your Corey is probably better than my Madison, I just don't know where to put my hands. I've rescanned the same protein 4 times just to keep occupied. I hear Cardassian asylums are nice, they have cookies and puppies. 

 

Corey chuckled as the joking sarcasm came through a little bit of himself seemed to be restored. 

 

Marsh (as Wetheren): What if we used Fermandatine? The specifics on the drug state that it does not cross the blood brain barrier for one and the compound rapidly increases the body's healing process. Research indicates that it is highly effective in revitalization. We could administer it through intravenous injection so that the drug travels rapidly through the patient's body as opposed to using a subdermal injection. The effects of the drug may be a bit intense, so we can use a sedative via hypospray to put them to sleep for several hours providing rest for the patient while the medication cures their condition. What are your thoughts on this option? 

 

Wethern (as Marsh): Fermandatine, that's pretty good an idea. We would need to stabilise the cell structure of surrounding tissue but a molecular sequencer on a biobed should be able to handle that no issues.

 

Corey wasn't as familiar with some of the new medicines and was trained very differently than those that went through Starfleet Medical, however respected Marsh's evidence based approach. They were two different sides of a medical coin. 

 

Madison: Did you come up with any options for treatment? We definitely need to test a few in the simulation as we do not want to be dependent on one option alone.

 

Wethern (as Marsh): I've been looking at the Loperamide option a little bit more. I want to run a simulation to see whether we could stabilise it with Cervaline. It should help prevent some of the damage caused. It would be a rough ride for the patient though. I think in any scenario we are looking at sedation. How are you holding up?

 

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

Oh @Vitor S. Silveira. Such a sweetheart. 

 

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Tito (as Garev): Also be careful on your way out, don't let the door slam you. 

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

I liked this from @Sal Taybrim's last sim

 

 

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Taybrim (as Aristren): And where will you be, Mr. Tito?  Doctor Garev. 

He corrected himself without a pause, like a cat falling, righting itself and then pretending that never happened.

 

 

[MSNPC Journalist Saveal Iru - Toe Curling]

Thanks, I hate her
Honestly though, I love how uncomfortable this character is making me feel. Well done @Rustyy_Hael❤️

 

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((Sannin VII - Cardassian Embassy - Corridor))

 

Saveal Iru was about the nosiest person anyone could come into contact with. She was a self-proclaimed, universally known professional journalist. She was not ashamed of how far she would go to sneak out the juiciest detail, unveiling secrets and undercover schemes and well- 

 

Anything. 

 

Saveal found all the cracks and crevices to scavenge from. Here was no different. She could feel it in her bones, smell it in the air! With a neck too long, a chin too pointed, and eyes sunk deep - naturally, not from lack of sleep - she serpentined through the corridors. Boney fingers,  with pointed painted nails, clung to PADD and a stylist. She wore a suit with as many points and edges as her face and fingers. Tight and as professional looking as from the magazines.

 

There was rumor that StarFleet was here to help with the Cardassian problem. Which was something of curiosity. Her readers, mostly her, felt it was some dark scheme to eradicate the species. And what rot it would be! StarFleet was always ready to lend a hand… It bored her to think about it. 

 

Yet… What did they know that she didn’t… 

 

Maybe an inside scoop 

 

Maybe a sinister plot! Because the universe was soaked in evil plans and plots. At least that’s the readers ate up. 

 

She heard voices… In front of her. Apparently her pace was darn near neck breakingly quick. She had managed to come up on some people, even without her knowing it.

 

Willow (as Sherlock): ::Allowing the others to peek at the triPADD:: Look here. The supposed background radiation is practically obscuring all other data points. It wasn’t like that before.

 

She stopped. 

 

So still. 

 

No way they noticed her yet. Her lips, much too big for her narrowed face, curled into a smile that took up her entire appearance. Teeth so prominent that you see each tooth’s outline filling her mouth. The dark makeup around her eyes lost all definition of eyelid to eyebrow, leaving only black pits with the white of her eyes the only things of notice. The tip of her tongue darted out for a second as she pressed record on her PADD.

 

Ksivi-Sava (as Willow): Huh… it’s probably technological..

 

Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava)/Willow (as Sherlock): Response

 

Ksivi-Sava (as Willow): Well, most of these wavelengths are in spectral ranges that I initially dismissed as probably emanating from more or less trivial technology… I admit that might have been a bit arbitrary, but, well, we needed something to filter out the mess, so I thought… oO Hands. oO Anyway, it’s fortunate we capped the intensity on the filter, or we might have missed this.

 

Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava)/Willow (as Sherlock): Response

 

Ksivi-Sava (as Willow): Well, that’s the catch, isn’t it? The fact that any given kind of device might produce such wavelengths of radiation in the first place means it’s largely impossible to make a guess at the nature of their source… except that it must be something substantial. ::pondering, stopping just short of scratching the side of his head:: Some sort of actual power source, perhaps fusion-based? I imagine an embassy might have a backup like that. ::Looking at Willow, because she was currently embodying the security chief:: What kind of weaponry would be expected from Cardassian embassy security, sir? Some less… sanitized phaser technology than Starfleet’s might release any kind of electromagnetic radiation, even when idle.

 

Her toes curled on the inside of her shoes, the nails just lightly clawing the faux leather heels in freakish anticipation. As softly as she could she tried to move just out of sight.

 

Willow (as Sherlock)/Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava): Response

 

Ksivi-Sava (as Willow): As tentatively interesting as these readings are, I am simply not versed enough with technological energy signatures to say. We might be looking at a Cardassian armory, a backup generator, or completely alien technology…. Under less adverse circumstances, I would suggest obtaining an engineering opinion.

 

Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava)/Willow (as Sherlock)/Ksivi-Sava (as Willow):

 

Maybe they heard her breathing. maybe it was the muffled sound of nails scrapping. Or perhaps there was an overwhelming sensation of something lurking nearby and it caused tiny hairs to raise up on the back of their necks, quick to look around for danger. Whatever it was, they seemed to take notice of her.

 

And what a sight. 

 

While she attempted to push herself out of their view moments before, she had instead pressed herself against the wall, head poked out, cocked to the side to get a better view and shoulders slightly hunched. The Padd was up at the ready, recording everything. What didn’t help the gangly appearance was that she was tall on top of it all, just shy of 6ft. Six foot tall and all angles and points. 

 

Iru: Shit - ::she turned to run… Well wobble - away from them. Her knobby knees and brittle ankles didn’t give her the speeded needed for a good getaway:: 

 

Saveal was quick to realize she wouldn’t get away this way. So changing tactics was necessary. With her PADD still on record, she stopped. Far too suddenly for someone of her… structure and mobility. And turned to face the trio. Her movements were disjointed and jerky and pretty sure one could hear the creaking of cartilage and bone. 

 

Iru: Strange readings, huh? Already know what’s killing off those poor Cardassian hybrids. ::her tone laced with confidence, arrogance and accusations::

 

Ksivi-Sava (as Willow)/Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava)/Willow (as Sherlock): ?

 

Iru: Who am I?! ::her voice was squawky and every syllable seemed to scrape from the back of her throat. She threw her head back, pointed nose right up into the air.:: _I_ am Saveal Iru, Intergalactic journalist. I expose everything ::she pointed back and forth between the three of them.:: 

 

Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava): ?

 

Iru: Excuse me, no ::eewww, she put up a hand in front of the Vulcan -the knuckle of each finger ever so prominent:: I will not talk to an ensign - ::she looked at Sherlock. At least his person.:: You, ::she pointed then pulled it back in emphasis..:: Lieutenant. Tell me what part does StarFleet play in this ploy to continue to dominate the galaxies. 

 

She stuffed the recording PADD into Sherlock’s face, insistently. 

 

Willow (as Sherlock): ?

 

Ksivi-Sava (as Willow)/Sherlock (as Ksivi-Sava): ?

 

TBC/TAGs

_______________________________

MSNPC Journalist Saveal Iru

Intergalactic Journalist

simmed by

LtCmdr Rustyy Hael

Cheif Engineer

Starbase 118 Ops

 

 

 

[B.L.A.D.E - Interactive Log]

Thank you ☺️ 

I am sooo curious to see how the interaction continues, especially with Rustyy!! 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

Hit him some more!! @Solaris

 

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Sol turned and moved to the front of the cockpit as Rustyy moved back toward the rear compartment. She had just opened her tricorder when there was shouting from out in the shuttlebay. She paused, looking up, then turned as there was a loud crash. She caught sight of Rustyy crumpling to the ground, a very angry Klingon standing over him. So much for their Security team. Of course this left her mostly alone in a hotrod shuttle with an angry Klingon blocking the only exit.


An angry Klingon that was now looking directly at her. That wasnt good. Sol let the tricorder drop, raising her hands into a defensive posture. The Klingon infront of her grinned, using his strength to pull apart the cuffs. Definitely not good.


The Klingon lunched at her and she ducked, dropping into a short roll before popping up behind the Klingon, who had simply crashed into one of the stations at the front of the ship. She backed toward the door a bit, stepping into the rear compartment, placing herself between Rustyy and the Klingon. The Klingon turned and let out a bellow before charging her again. Sol waited for a moment as the Klingon got close enough to start his swing, ducking it and slamming an elbow into his stomach. She used her momentum and the Klingons as he stumbled past her to grab the back of his clothing and shove him toward the bulkhead. She winced slightly as he smashed into it with a groan. She stepped behing him, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him back out the hatch into the shuttle bay as more security officers finally arrived. He landed in a heap. She huffed, finding herself grateful that she had taken T'Se up on her offer to teach her Suus Mahna trying her year away from 118. The Vulcan commander had been the Deputy Director of the sector when she had been working behind the scenes setting up for Terra Prime's downfall. Calm, logical, and very accomplished in self defense. Things Sol aspired to, and succeeded in, to various levels. Less so on the logical or self defense, but always calm.


Sol looked to the security team.


McLaren: Restrain this petaQ... then escort him and his friend to the brig. They just won themselves an all expenses paid trip back to 118. :; She paused. :: Then call a medic down here.

 

[Lt. Vitor Silveira: Present blessings. Past curses. - USS Artemis-A]

Nothing to see here, just @Vitor S. Silveira being awesome as usual ❤️ 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

I adore this bit from @Sal Taybrim
Brings out the different takes on telepathy and empathy incredibly well, its really a pleasure to read ❤️ 

 

Quote

 

There was a constant rhythmic pounding that reached his ears like a dilapidated bass drum somewhere in the distance.

It took several moments, dragged out past the point of reason or sense for his mind to untangle what it was.

A heartbeat.

His?  Or… hers?  No.  Someone else, who was listening to the beating of their own heart thundering in their mind.

Taybrim (as Aristren): I can hear it when people approach.  The thoughts are so… loud.

Every thought was loud.

Loud and sharp and clearly delineated.  Like hard ink line drawings knocking at his brain with a startling clarity.

Black ink on a white page, with only the faintest watercolor wash of the palest colors or emotion.  An afterthought at best.  

In contrast his own telepathy was weak.  Hazy scribbled lines that sometimes faded away, but overlayed with massive bright colors of emotion.  Emotion layered in mixed media, full of texture and contrast and nuance.  

And that was the most disorienting.  His empathy was gone.  The sense that was overwhelming for him, the one he relied upon was pale and weak and hidden in the background of the juggernaut of telepathy.

Aristren (as Taybrim): You will hurt people if you do not control your telepathy.

Tell him something he didn’t know.

For a moment he looked over at his own body and his expression was pained.  How was she so easily able to control his senses, unbothered by his hypersensitive empathy, saddened at his weakened telepathy.  She was a monument standing still against a storm.  He was a canoe, barely staying afloat in the waves.

Was that unfair?

The universe wasn’t fair.

And the only way to navigate it was to choose how you acted in any given situation.

 

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

I wanted to highlight this bit from @Solaris - while it isn't a particularly deep or funny, it was a great way to bring the scene back on track by removing her MSNPC for the time being, which showcases a good understanding how to gently push into the right direction and utilizing a MSNPC to help secure the mission outcome


 

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Renot (as Tito): ::To Gil:: Are you ok? That noise was… painful. I'm not ok.. ::To Renot:: And who are you?!


Gil: I didn't hear anything. :: She paused. :: Is this some sort of joke? Prank the Cardassian instead of helping?


Garev (as Renot): ?


Eskat rolled her eyes.


Gil: I see how it is... :: She let out a puff of air, blowing up some of her bangs. :: I need some air... maybe a drink.


Garev (as Renot)/Renot (as Tito): Response?


She shook her head, locking her console and the made for the door.

 

[Ensign Ksivi-Sava - Kaleidoscope]

Eeeeek, beat me to it!

I loved his sim, and I very much love Ksivi-Sava in general. An absolutely delightful character! ❤️ 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

Quote

He – she – struggled to his/her feet.  Her feet, his struggle.

 Love this one from @Sal Taybrim

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

@Lt Aine Olive Sherlock That title tho... ❤️ 

LT Aine Sherlock - Chief Of The Ashes

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

You should meet Nestira, she will find you adorable, @Ksivi-Sava
 

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Ksivi-Sava: oO This is blowing up in our faces, say something, add something useful… oO ::obviously fishing for words:: Naturally, a thorough approach to security also entails… gauging a fellow partner’s values—a measure of caution that Cardassian political culture would… certainly be familiar with, wouldn’t it? oO No, something useful, for goodness’ sake! oO

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

I love this piece from @Vitor S. Silveira 
TW: Drug/Alcohol abuse 

Quote

Tito blinked and frowned, as their voices turned into some sort of whistle or something, that  surged around his brain he blinked again. He felt a sort of nausea, a confusing feeling of being swirled around, and his old instincts came to play as he raised his hand and spoke to Gil and Egil.

Tito: Something is wrong with me…

Tito wasn’t able to finish the sentence with the order to reach any of the others and tried to regain balance as he felt himself falling. With his eyes shut he controlled his breathing, in his past he had felt similar to this.

But back when he was an addict. Usually trips would make him feel this dizzie, it was the withdrawal that was the issue. Over the years he got the hang of it, depending on the substance he would fly into magnificent worlds, always with Vetras,sometimes still pregnant, others with their little girl in her arms. 
Tito had crossed the stars as if he was a starship, visited Galaxies his brain had built under the influence. There were a few bad trips, but mostly he had that same floating feeling, that was why he learned quickly to get himself comfortable before taking the dose.

It was similar, but the pain was a concern. Usually bad trips didn’t involve pain, not when he was high. The bad trips were the ones where he saw Vetras killed, dying, the funeral, something like this, the physical effects were only noticeable when he woke up.

Obviously that depended on what he was taking.

Now… Well he certainly wasn’t taking anything. He had been clean for years. Still what was happening wasn’t certainly normal.

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

Need a kidney? Just ask ....

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Lasela and her creepy cold storage box of highly useful things. 

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

And then this:

 

 

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Only very subtly—or so he imagined—did Ksivi-Sava seek eye contact with Lt. Willow. If the chief of security was in possession of some sort of intel indicating an actual inside threat, possibly even aimed at the Commodore, then Ksivi-Sava felt this would be a good time to get a hint of some kind. He wasn’t terribly versed at this sort of game as it was, but here they were playing it with a Cardassian, of all people, and him not even completely in the picture.

 

Then it hit him like a layer of atmosphere in the way of a fully-ladden Bussard scoop: If Sherlock and Willow had reason to expect an inside threat, full disclosure to a fresh Ensign would be nothing short of foolish. For all they knew, he could be the threat! They had received a shuttleload of unfamiliar Ensigns with the conference just about to start—of course they had to keep secrets from him, all the while dragging him along to keep up the appearance, possibly even catch him in the act.

 

For a moment, while still awkwardly trying to attract Sherlock’s attention, Ksivi-Sava almost—just almost—grinned at his brilliant deduction: He was a prime suspect! Of course it wasn’t a very satisfying conclusion to him, on account of knowing he wasn’t a hitman, but nonetheless: They knew what they were doing, and any semblance of rushed planning or shaky informational basis was owing to them actually taking proper precautions. It was the real Starfleet indeed!

 

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

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Ksivi-Sava: ::nodding (self-)reassuringly:: As are yours, I would dare presume. oO And I’m sure not all of those are going to be entirely in the picture, either. Join Starfleet, come for the science, stay for the spy games. oO 

Love this @Ksivi-Sava

[Lt. Commander Dekas - Angry bird]

Clicked it because of the title and was not disappointed! Awesome sim ❤️ 

[LtJG Hiro Jones - Come Fly With Me, Let's Fly, Let's Fly Away]

Founds this when stalking Artemis' IC List by puuuure coincidence. I really like the descriptions here and the way @Hiro Jones conveys his character's feelings and past experiences. Well done ❤️  

Best. Shoreleave. Ever.

 

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((Draivon - Draivon District, Cait))

 

Luxa and Hiro (the latter fairly sweaty by this point in the hike) crested a ridge Hiro couldn't see beyond until they'd reached the top. The view was in a word: awesome. Adding to the contrast, the tree line stopped on a level with them, revealing they now stood near the edge of a sheer cliff face. Below them was more, thicker, wilder-looking jungle than even that through which they'd been walking. A "crack" of sorts ran through the dense canopy, indicating a river on the jungle floor. in the place where it forked, Hiro could see a watering hole, rich with animal activity. The scene was simultaneously prehistoric and utopian. Tentatively, he took a small step closer to the edge. He assumed there was a barrier, but it was always better to be safe than sorry when it came to long drops.

 

 

At a complete loss for words, Hiro just stood, mouth agape, wishing he knew what words to say to convey how this view made him feel. All that came out was a small squeak of joy. Fortunately, Luxa filled him in on what exactly he was seeing.

 

Lorana: ::points to a large home in the distance:: That's my family's land. This is where I was brought up. The jungle was preserved by my forebears and they've refused to destroy any of it. Long ago, the Lorana clan were custodians of this land. Sworn to protect it and all of its inhabitants. 

 

 

Jones: You must have loved growing up around ::sweeping a hand toward the vista:: all this.

 

 

Lorana: I never really appreciated it, always trying to escape, and find something else to believe in. 

 

 

(( OOC - cutting the flashback for brevity, but it's quite lovely. Make sure you go read it! ))

 

 

He considered her response. It ran familiar - the old story of no matter where or in what environment an individual grew up, there would always be a drive toward independence and individuality. Now however, was not the time for psychoanalysis. She was encouraging him to step even closer to the edge. He finally noticed a small building he hadn't before. There were a few Caitians loitering outside, and one waved while walking toward them.

 

 

Yonteer: Luxa?! 

 

 

Lorana: It's me Yonteer. The winds have carried me back to a home that will never forget my scent. 

 

 

Hiro noted the inclination of the head. Knowing how to bow properly was always something Hiro's dad had insisted upon, and he supposed the skill stuck.

 

 

Lorana: This is my friend Hiro. 

 

 

Jones: ::mirroring the bow as best he could:: I'm pleased to meet you. 

 

 

Yonteer: We don't get many humans here :: looks to Luxa:: Have you come to glide? 

 

 

oO Um ... what? Oo

 

 

He stared blankly from Yonteer to Luxa and back.

 

Jones: ::tentatively:: I agreed to an adventure, but I have to admit: I was not aware that would include "gliding."

 

Lorana: Hiro, are you afraid of heights? I want to take you to a secret place, but we can only get there if we glide? Which means we have to jump off the cliff. Yonteer is the best on Cait, I promise. 

 

 

Hiro wasn't afraid of heights. He wasn't even afraid of jumping from them. Heck, he wasn't even afraid of a good free-fall. It was the unknown odds of a sudden and bodily detrimental coincidence with the ground that made his toes go cold.

 

Still, he had agreed to an adventure. He had said he trusted Luxa. He did want to be respectful of various aspects of other cultures. If Luxa trusted Yonteer, he supposed there was only one course of action.

 

Jones: No, I'm ok with heights. Let's ... uh, yeah. I'm in. Gliding! Sounds ::swallows hard:: invigorating.

 

 

Lorana/Yonteer: Response

 

They walked a short distance further, and Hiro caught a glimpse of the platform from which they'd be taking off. It stuck out like a pier from the edge of the cliff. It was a fairly narrow landing though, which made Hiro wonder what kind of contraption these gliders were. He'd had friends back on Earth who enjoyed hang-gliding, but he'd never gone with them. Presumably, the vehicles they were about to use were similar.

 

Oh he was wrong.

 

Yonteer led them to an even smaller building - more of a shed, really, from which he retrieved large, oddly floppy suits. He held one up, eyeing Hiro appraisingly, shook his head, and grabbed another. Hiro's mind was at war with itself. It first hoped that these suits were a means to secure the gliding individuals to a larger, more fool-proof contraption. The more logical part of his mind called the first a rude name, having already deduced these suits were the gliders.

 

oO Maybe I should establish a live emergency transporter lock? Oo

 

Yonteer/Lorana: Response

 

Jones: No, I'm fine. Just suddenly grateful I haven't eaten lunch yet.

 

Yonteer was clearly knowledgable. The skill and practiced hand as he helped Hiro don and fasten his suit was somewhat reassuring. When he gave a very detailed instruction course, Hiro paid attention as though his life depended on it, which he realized in an uncomfortable instant it kinda did.

 

Tilts of one limb or another in relation to the other limbs would (according to the gliding instructor - who seemed to be enjoying Hiro's nerves) alter the course of the descent. Folding the arms down to the body would send the glider into a nose dive (good for speed, if that's what one wanted). The list went on. The more information Hiro ingested, the greater the juxtaposition of confidence and disease he felt.

 

Finally, Yonteer seemed satisfied. Luxa had quickly and expertly adjusted her own suit, underlining the fact Hiro was the newbie here. As they waddled (ok fine, as Hiro waddled - Luxa seemed incapable of lacking grace) onto the pier, Hiro thought maybe he should ask Jovenan to water his plants after he died, but the moment for bequeathing houseplants was passed. It was time to fly.

 

Lorana: Response

 

Jones: ::putting on a brave face:: Go ahead, I'm right behind you.

 

So she did. The crazy Caitian stepped backward off the platform with as little thought as Hiro might give to stepping into a pool. One minute she was standing, smiling at him, next, gone. He rushed to the edge, dreading what he might see. What he saw was honestly pretty amazing. She had oriented herself into a flat splayed figure, and was now gliding in slow, lazy circles, waiting apparently for him to follow.

 

Yonteer suggested Hiro jump in the splayed figure, since it was his first time, and Hiro completely agreed. He wasn't interested in trying anything fancy right out of the gate. He took a deep breath ... and leapt.

 

Now, Hiro wasn't a screamer. Usually. Under normal circumstances, he was calm, collected, poised, and as in control as the situation allowed. This situation had no interest in his self-control, and the scream that issued from him sent a flock of birds angrily from their nests in the cliffside scrub. By the time he'd regained a modicum of composure, he could hear Yonteer laughing - even over the roar of wind in his ears.

 

Convinced he wasn't going to die, he cast about for Luxa's suit. She was there, about a hundred meters below him, still circling. He shakily adjusted his arms, arcing around to the left to form a larger circle above hers. This was a signal that he was ready to follow her. How she saw this was a mystery to him, as he was afraid to move his head too much. He figured it had something to do with her tail. That would be a very handy stabilizer, he supposed. He clenched his glutes, but it had no effect.

 

Luxa arced out of her spiral, heading away from the cliff. Hiro saw, now he had a more panoramic view of the area, the forest covered just about everything visible. Kilometer after kilometer of dense vegetation. There was so much green here! As they sped onward, three grazu came to investigate. Hiro remembered the huge creature off the walking path, and was momentarily frightened. When he saw the large, curious, almost whale-like eye of the beast, it became a magical moment. He dove a little lower; the grazu matched his decline. He pulled up way harder than he'd meant to, and accidentally sent himself into a backward summersault. The grazu gave a huge flap of its wings, which sent it skyward, then wrapped them in tight, hanging weightless for a moment before arcing back down. It whizzed passed Hiro by about two meters. Heart racing, Hiro couldn't help but laugh. He was flying with a huge Caitian bird-thing. Scientific nomenclature be damned. This was fun.

The Grazu flew off with a trumpeting call that rang through Hiro's whole body. This little game had increased the distance between him and Luxa though. He needed speed now. Maybe it was playing with the grazu, maybe he was just getting comfortable, but he slapped his arms to his side and spread his legs wide, turning him into a missile. The speed was incredible. His cheeks flapped furiously from the resistance and his eyes streamed freely, but he did catch up to his friend just as she arced away into another spiral, apparently slowing her descent for an eventual landing. He followed suit.

 

A few, loopy minutes later, Luxa landed gracefully on an unbelievably thick carpet of moss not far from the watering hole. Hiro was ... less graceful. His landing, while not a crash landing, was more of a semi-controlled, flop/tumble/roll. Whatever it could be called, he was grateful for the springy moss. He looked up panting with exhilaration and excitement from the ground at his friend.

 

Jones: Best. Shoreleave. Ever.

 

Lorana: Response

 

 

 

TAG/TBC

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant JG Hiro Jones, MD PhD

USS Artemis-A, Counselor
E239510KD0
"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius

 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

Quote

Vorrin was frustrated. Frustrated with the situation. Frustrated with being away from the problem. Frustrated that they couldn't solve the problem. And now, he was frustrated by this embassy. He was told he would be coming here to meet with the Federation and appraise them of the situation in the hope they could assist, but it seemed all that was happening was a waiting game. Whoever was running the show from behind the curtain seemed to have everyone put on edge. First the aides they "were running late," then when they arrived it was "we're waiting on a room to be available." Either the embassy staff was run with incompetence, or someone was stalling.

 

 Lovely intro @Lt Aine Olive Sherlock

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

On 7/30/2023 at 12:34 AM, Lt Aine Olive Sherlock said:

This is giving me some Michael Scott "Pam is a wonderful and amazing person, but I'd never say that to her face." vibes.

Saving that for a special occasion so it’s … special! 

[SB118 Ops: Quotations of the Week!]

Quote

Madison nodded her head once in acknowledgement. oO Yeah, because I did not just join the crew and I am actually leading a mission that has already altered course once. You got it Lieutenant, I will hack into Commander McLaren's PADD next time to read the team's roster. Oo

Love this one from Ensign Marsh ❤️